Higher Risk of Cooking Fires Involving Seniors

Seniors may be at risk of several injuries and accidents, and some of the most underestimated of those injuries and accidents occur in kitchen and cooking fires.

Seniors may be at risk of several injuries and accidents, and some of the most underestimated of those injuries and accidents occur in kitchen and cooking fires. According to data, more than 12,000 Americans aged above the age of 65 die in residential fires every year.

In fact, the senior population is one of the most high-risk categories for seniors in the United States. According to the data, more than 3,000 people in this age group are injured every year in residential fires. Most house fires involving senior citizens begin in the kitchen, or involve space heaters. The National Fire Protection Association also estimates that as much as $ 7 billion worth of property is destroyed in fires every year.

While builders go to great lengths to make homes for senior citizens safe and secure by adding a number of remedies to prevent falls and other accident hazards, they may fail to realize that one of the effects of ageing is forgetfulness and memory loss. That increases the risk of household fires and other accidents in these homes.

According to the US Fire Administration, a senior’s risk of dying in a fire increases when he reaches the age of 50. On an average, more than 1,000 Americans aged 65 and above die in fires every year. Persons aged 85 and have an even higher fire-related fatality rate. They die in fires at a rate that is five times higher than for the rest of the American population.

Fires involving seniors are even more difficult and result in more serious burn injuries, because the senior may not be able to take preventive action in time to reduce the risk of injuries.